
1934-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. To help avoid
an  accident,  death  or  serious  injury,  keep  the  following  in  min d when
towing:
● Speed  limits  for  towing  a  trailer  vary  by  state  or  province.  Do  not
exceed the posted to wing speed limit.
● Toyota  recommends  that  the  vehicl e-trailer  speed  limit  is  65  mph
(104 km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this li mit, the
posted  towing  speed  limit  or  the  speed  limit  for  your  trailer  a s  set
forth  in  your  trailer owner’s  manu al,  whichever is  lowest.  Instability
of the towing vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increa ses as
speed increases. Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of contr ol.
● Before  starting  out,  check  the  trailer  lights,  tires  and  the  vehicle-
trailer connections. Recheck af ter driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attac hed in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed  to  the fe el
of the vehicle-trailer combination.
● Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires pra ctice.
Grip  the  bottom  of  the  steering  wheel  and  move  your  hand  to  the
left  to  move  the  trailer  to  the  left.  Move  your  hand  to  the  rig ht  to
move the trailer to the right. (This is generally opposite to r eversing
without  a  trailer  attached.) Avoid  sharp  or  prolonged  turning.  Have
someone  guide  you  when  reversing  to  reduce  the  risk  of  an  acci-
dent.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicl e-to-
vehicle  distance  should  be  increased.  For  each  10  mph  (16  km/h)
of speed, allow at least one v ehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may  skid, resulting in the trailer  jack-
knifing and a loss of vehicle control. This is especially true  on wet or
slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering  and sharp turns, and slow down before maki ng
a turn.
● Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer  than
the vehicle wheels to the inside  of the turn. Compensate by mak ing
a wider than normal turning radius.
Trailer towing tips 

1944-1. Before driving
●Slow down before making a turn, in crosswinds, on wet or slippe ry
surfaces, etc. 
Increasing vehicle speed can destabilize the trailer.
● Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires consider-
able  distance. After  passing  a  vehicle,  do  not  forget  the  lengt h  of
your  trailer,  and  be  sure  you  have  plenty  of  room  before  changi ng
lanes.
● Vehicles  with  an  automatic  transmission: To  maintain  engine  bra k-
ing efficiency and charging system performance when using engin e
braking,  do  not  use  the  transmission  in  D.  If  in  the  S  mode,  th e
transmission shift range posit ion must be in 5 or lower.
● Vehicles  with  a  manual  transmiss ion:  To  maintain  engine  braking
efficiency  and  charging  system  performance  when  using  engine
braking, do not use the sixth gear.
● Instability happens more frequently when descending steep or lo ng
downhill grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts while  descending steep or long down-
hill grades.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the bra kes
too frequently. This could cause  the brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
● Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may  over-
heat  on  hot  days  (at  temperatures  over  85°F  [30°C])  when  drivin g
up  a  long  or steep  grade.  If  the  engine  coolant  temperature  gau ge
indicates overheating, immediately turn off the air conditionin g (if in
use), pull your vehicle off the  road and stop in a safe spot. 
(  P. 534) 

1954-1. Before driving
4
Driving
●Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trai ler’s
wheels  when  parking. Apply  the  parking  brake  firmly,  and  put  th e
transmission  in  P  (automatic  transmission)  or  in  1  or  R  (manual
transmission). Avoid  parking  on  a  slope,  but  if  unavoidable,  do  so
only after perform ing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone  place wheel blocks  under both the vehicle’s and
trailer’s wheels.
When  the  wheel  blocks  are  in  pl ace,  release  the  brakes  slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into P (automatic transmission) or 1 or R (manual transmi s-
sion) and turn off the engine.
● When restarting afte r parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P (autom atic transmission) or the clutch
pedal  (manual  transmission)  depr essed,  start  the  engine.  On
vehicles  with  an  automatic  transmission,  be  sure  to  keep  the
brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear.  If reversing, shift into R.
Release the parking brake (and also the brake pedal on vehicles
with  an  automatic  transmission),  and  slowly  pull  or  back  away
from the wheel blocks. S top and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
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1964-1. Before driving
■Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■ Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( P. 551)
● Trailer  tires  are  inflated  according  to  the  trailer  manufacture r’s  recommen-
dation.
● All trailer lights work as required by law.
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on  the trailer.
● The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for imprope r tongue weight,
overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
● The  rear  view  mirrors  conform  to  all  applicable  federal,  state/provincial  or
local regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors ap propriate for tow-
ing purposes.
● Depress  power  mode  button  (vehicles  with  an  automatic  transmiss ion).
( P. 211)
No  matter  which  class  of  tow  hitch
applies,  for  a  more  safe  trailer  hookup,
the  trailer  ball  setup  must  be  the  proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler 
Trailer ball
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1974-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Break-in schedule
If  your  vehicle  is  new  or  equipped  with  any  new  power  train  com ponents
(such  as  an  engine,  transmission,  differential  or  wheel  bearing ),  Toyota  rec-
ommends  that  you  do  not  tow  a  trailer  until  the  vehicle  has  bee n  driven  for
over 500 miles (800 km).
After  the  vehicle  has  been  driven  for  over  500  miles  (800  km),  you  can  start
towing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the veh icle at a speed
of  less  than  50  mph  (80  km/h)  when  towing  a  trailer,  and  avoid  full  throttle
acceleration.
■ Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent m aintenance due
to  the  additional  load.  (See  “Owner’s  Warranty  Information  Book let”  or
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide”/“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
● Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after  approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
■ If trailer sway occurs
One  or  more  factors  (crosswinds,  passing  vehicles,  rough  roads,   etc.)  can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing  instability.
● If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin  releasing  the  accelerator  pedal  immediately  but  very  gra dually  to
reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If  you  make  no  extreme  correction  with  the  steering  or  brakes,  your  vehicle
and trailer should stabilize. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control  can also help to
stabilize the vehicle and trailer.)
● After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combinat ion.
Drive  at  a  lower  speed  to  prevent  instability.  Remember  that  sw aying  of  the
towing vehicle-trailer increases as speed increases. 

1984-1. Before driving
WARNING
■Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle  in accordance
with  the  trailer’s  characteristics  and  operating  conditions.  Failure  to  do  so
could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. V ehicle stability
and  braking  performance  are  affected  by  trailer  stability,  brake  setting  and
performance, and the hitch. Your vehicle will handle differentl y when towing
a trailer.
■ To avoid accident or injury
● Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.
● If  the  gross  trailer  weight  is  over  2000  lb.  (907  kg),  a  sway  control  device
with sufficient capacity is required.
● If  the  gross  trailer  weight  is  over  5000  lb.  (2268  kg),  a  weight  distributing
hitch with sufficient capacity is required.
● Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads
as close to the trailer axle as possible.
● Do  not  exceed  65  mph  (104  km/h),  the  posted  towing  speed  limit  or  the
speed  limit  for  your  trailer  as  set  forth  in  your  trailer  owner’s  manual,
whichever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently before making a tur n, in cross-
winds,  on  wet  or  slippery  surface,  etc.,  to  help  avoid  an  accident.  If  you
experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing a certain speed, slow
down  and  make  sure  you  keep  your  vehicle  speed  under  the  speed  of
which you experience the instability.
● Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.
● Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and  loss  of  vehicle  control.  This  is  especially  true  on  wet  or  slippery  sur-
faces.
● Do  not  exceed  the  trailer  hitch  assembly  weight,  gross  vehicle  weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.
● Do  not  use  cruise  control  (if  equipped)  or  dynamic  radar  cruise   control  (if
equipped) when towing.
● Slow  down  and  downshift  before  descending  steep  or  long  downhil l
grades.  Do  not  make  sudden  downshifts  while  descending  steep  or  long
downhill grades.
● Vehicle-trailer  instability  is  more  likely  on  steep  long  downhi lls.  Before
descending  steep  or  long  downhill  grades,  slow  down  and  downshi ft.  Do
not  make  sudden  downshifts  when  descending  steep  or  long  downhi ll
grades.  Avoid  holding  the  brake  pedal  down  too  long  or  applying   the
brakes  too  frequently. This  could cause  the  brakes  to overheat  and  result
in reduced braking efficiency.
● Do not tow a trailer when the temporary spare tire is installed  on your vehi-
cle. 

1994-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
■Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities estab lished by the
hitch  manufacturer.  Even  though  the  vehicle  may  be  physically  capable  of
towing  a  higher  weight,  the  operator  must  determine  the  maximum  weight
rating  of  the  particular  hitch  assembly  and  never  exceed  the  ma ximum
weight rating specified  for  the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight
rating  set  by  the  trailer-hitch  manufacturer  can  cause  an  accid ent  resulting
in death or serious personal injuries.
■ When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any appl icable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
● If  the  gross  trailer  weight  exceeds  unbraked  TWR,  trailer  brakes  are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform t o all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap  into your  vehicle’s  hydraulic  system, as this  will  lo wer the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.
● Never  tow  a  trailer  without  using  a  safety  chain  securely  attac hed  to  both
the  trailer  and  the  vehicle.  If  damage  occurs  to  the  coupling  u nit  or  hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lan e.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
Use  only  the  position  recommended  by  your  Toyota  dealer.  Do  not  install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing traile r lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction. 

2114-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
*1: To  improve  fuel  efficiency  and  reduce  noises,  set  the  shift  lever  in  the  D
position for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit  of the possible
gear  ranges,  controls  engine  braking  forces,  and  prevents  unnec essary
upshifting.
Use  when  high  levels  of  response  and  feeling  are  desirable,  suc h  as
when driving in m ountainous regions or  when pulling a trailer.
Press  the  “ECT  PWR”  button  to
select power mode.
The  “ECT  PWR”  indicator  comes
on.
Press  the  button  again  to  cancel
power mode.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionFunction
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral 
(Condition in which the power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P. 212)
Selecting power mode